Many members of Congress had failed to correctly answer if Al Qaeda was predominantly Sunni or Shiite. Even congressman Silvestre Reyes the head of the House Intelligence Committee failed to answer the question correctly.
What is the difference between the Sunnis and Shiites? The division between the two major sections of the Islamic religion began when Muhammad died in 632 A.D. as a result of a poisoned lamb made by a Jewish woman he captured after he plundered and conquered the Jewish city of Khaibar. After Muhammad's death there was a dispute about the next successor to the Muslim nation. The Sunnis selected Abu Bakr, Muhammad's closest adviser and friend. Abu Bakr became the Sunnis' first caliph, "a leader of an Islamic polity, regarded as a successor of Muhammad and by tradition always male." Shiite Muslims believed the next successor should be a blood relative and selected Muhammad's son in law and cousin, Ali. Ali became the Shiites' first imam or "any of various rulers that claim descent from Muhammad and exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region."
The Shiites view imams as sinless because they are direct descendents of Muhammad and were chosen directly from God or Allah to rule the Muslim nation. The Shiites view their imams as Catholics would view saints. Shiites regularly visit shrines and tombs of imams hoping to receive some enlightenment or divine intervention.
Shiites also reject the hadith. Hadith is "the collective body of traditions relating to Muhammad and his companions." The Shiites reject the hadith because of various reasons that include anger towards Muhammad's companions including Abu Bakr.
The Shiites only make up 10-15% of the total Muslim population. Shiites are predominately located in Iran and Iraq and some large populations are also located in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.
Another difference between the Sunnis and Shiites is Mahdi. Mahdi, "rightly guided one," is a person (like the Messiah) that will save the world and bring international peace. The Shiites believe that Mahdi has already come and are waiting for him to comeback. The Sunnis believe that Mahdi has yet to arrive.
Many Sunnis believe they lost their caliphate after World War I in 1924. After the lost fundamentalist Sunnis caliphates appeared in places like India and Egypt because of the infiltration of Western culture and ideologies. Thus began the anger against Western ideals.
So what is the answer to the question? Al Qaeda is predominantly Sunni. And Osama bin Laden follows many traditions of the Sunni.
It terrifies me that people don't even realize what type of Muslim is our number enemy and most wanted man. This is perhaps one of the reasons we have not yet caught him. Education is absolutely important in order to understand our enemies. Not until we fully understand each other will there be peace.
http://hnn.us/articles/934.html
http://www.answering-islam.org/Silas/mo-death.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/caliph
http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imam
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/weekinreview/17cave.html?_r=1
you pointed out some things I wasn't aware of.
As far as Osama being a Sunni, do you really think that fact is all that important? Osama's ideology doesn't really reflect the majority of Muslims' beliefs. I think what is more important is his Taliban ideology. The Taliban movement seeks to create the world's purest Islamic state and follows their own strict interpretation of the Qur'an.
Sunni Islam has a distinct difference from Shiite Islam which is its openness to reason and practicality (Experiencing the World's Religions by Michael Malloy (2008).
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
yes i do believe it is important to know. it is important what type of beliefs someone truely follows i.e. i would want to know if osama believed certain rulers had the divine right to rule or not or if he followed the hadith or not. The hadith is the foundation in which Sharia Law is based on which permits people to be stoned to death.
second, sunnis were the first people that started the fundmentalist movements against the Western World.
third, the blog was mainly about the difference between the sunnis and the shiites. not rather or not osama was a sunnie or shiite. the title was there just to get people thinking about the different sects of Islam.
sure many sunnis may be open to reason, but you must consider that most Muslims are sunnis.
and yes i would like to know if our head of the intelligence congressman knew if osama was sunni or not.
I thought Osama was Russian and so I am glad you made the blog. Hehehe.
I was noticing that many of the diffrences the Shiite and Sunni have are the same as the Christian follower and the Jewish follower.
Interesting that the paths sort of parallel.
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
i too noticed the parallels. especially about the Madhi. interesting how all Abraham religions have some sort of savior that will bring peace to the world.
i think humans must have a strong desire to be saved.
That really bothers me that we as a people have to have that sort of savior in our world. Look at the Sunnis, who said that the Madhi has already come but is coming again. Also look at the Christian religion and Jesus, who is going to have a second coming. I wish that we as a people could get past this because then we would realize what it is that we are actually capable of, and not what "God," "Allah," etc. has given us the power to do. But that is way too much hopeful thinking.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/50362-abrahams-covenant
Sorry, still one of those "shameless lazy self soliciting links." Haven't yet gone to that link you gave me about the pretty links.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
"third, the blog was mainly about the difference between the sunnis and the shiites. not rather or not osama was a sunnie or shiite. the title was there just to get people thinking about the different sects of Islam."
That makes it all make sense to me.
My point is that by paying so much attention to Osama bin Laden's status as a Sunni, you are dangerously approaching on generalizing that since about 85% of Muslims are Sunni, they too must be like Osama bin Laden. He is a fanatic, it doesn't matter what other larger faction of Islam he belongs to. There are far more interesting and individual characteristics to note about Osama bin Laden.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Well, thanks to your comment I edited the title. I realized my mistake. : )
knowledge has to have a beginning even if that is ignorance. lol.
generalization is unaviodable.
If you keep everything as is, and discuss the divide between Sunni and Shiite Islam, you can simply mention at the end that Osama bin Laden is of Sunni tradition. But then you face a challenge of posting another blog to follow that will outline the ideology of Osama bin Laden that will start with Sunni ideology and end with his current ideology.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
I would hope that our Head of the Committee on Intelligence would know what type of Muslim Osama bin Laden was. This is basically the same as saying we are going to infiltrate Tibet and not really care if we were fighting those who were for China and those were for Tibet. This is essential knowledge and would helpi in the everyday man's thinking about the subject, but is very, very essential to every person in our government who is at all related to the Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and any other war that our government deems necessary. Yes, this means the once hopeful President Elect of the United States John McCain who misspoke about the two groups. Although this is just a minor slip up, it still offended many Iraqis in the process. One must know the enemy in order to wage a successful war.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
i would've beat myself over it.....
also, I am a Sunni but I have really close friends who I've grown up with who are Shiites so it really doesn't matter to me....
Sunnis also consider Hazrat Ali their calipha but he is the fourth calipha he comes after Abu Bakr, Omar, and Usman. These four are called the Rashiddun Caliphate. (the big four in the Sunni history)
"I'm more like a fool for soul and passion....
I watch crash, and realize that we all survivors
no religion or race, whatever describe us." -Forever Begins, Common
Why exactly are these four calipha's very importan? Did they comprise the hadith?
any other reasons?
Do Sunnis travel to their shrines?
I do not know much about Islam, but i am highly interested about its beliefs, history and ideologies.
i am excited that you here!!!!
you said, "i am excited that you here!!!!"
Me too! See asmaw, we need you!
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
so the four caliphas were the ones who took the helms of the religion of Islam after the Prophet (Pbuh) passed away, one after the other passed away, the caliphs performed his duty of spreading Islam across the lands in the Middle East and Africa.
So this is where the misconception that Islam was spread with the sword comes from because people just won't accept that it was not always violence that was used to convert nonbelievers.
The Hadiths are a whole separate thing and yes, some of the hadith are passed down to us through the caliphate but there are many other Sahabba/ people who the Prophet (Pbuh) was acquainted with during his lifetime that contributed to the Hadith.
Sunnis are allowed to travel to shrines, we cannot and do not worship anyone else and cannot ask for things from anyone else except for Allah and have to remember that Muhammad (PBUH) was the last prophet sent to us by Allah (SWT)
"I'm more like a fool for soul and passion....
I watch crash, and realize that we all survivors
no religion or race, whatever describe us." -Forever Begins, Common
Yoohoo! I knew the difference bewteen the two, thanks to my muslim friends!
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It always seems impossible until it is done-Nelson Mandela.